Strike Fighters 2: Indian Ocean

Strike Fighters 2: Indian Ocean

 

This mod package for "Strike Fighters 2" supplies the aircraft, ground objects, guns, weapons, and effects to support four campaigns centered on the tensions and occasional conflicts between India and Pakistan. Two of those campaigns are fictional and involve the U.S. Navy, which intervenes amidst rising tensions between the two countries in a support of Pakistan. Two are historial -- based on actual wars fought between the two countries.

 

To use this mod, you must have a merged install that includes "Strike Fighters 2" (SF2), "Strike Fighters 2: Europe" (SF2E), "Strike Fighters 2: Israel" (SF2I), SF2I "Expansion Pack 1" (EXP1), "Strike Fighters 2: Vietnam" (SF2V), and "Strike Fighters 2: North Atlantic" (SF2NA). This mod also requires the MirageIIIO DLC aircraft from ThirdWire.

 

Note that this is a COMPLETE mod package and should be installed to its own dedicated Mod Folder. Please do not attempt to combine it with any other major mod such as "NATO Fighters," as you could end up with a non-working install. Also, although this mod shares a number of common elements with the SF2NA Expansion Pack, it is NOT designed to be installed over or merged with that earlier mod.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Minimum Requirements
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

To install and play this mod, you must have the following installed as part of your target installation base:

 

REQUIRED:
Strike Fighters 2 (SF2), plus
Strike Fighters 2 Europe (SF2E), plus
Strike Fighters 2 Israel (SF2I), plus
Strike Fighters 2 Israel - Expansion Pack 1, plus
Strike Fighters 2 Vietnam (SF2V), plus
Strike Fighters 2 North Atlantic (SFNA), plus
DLC #17 (Mirage IIIO)

 

PATCH LEVEL:
Mar2012 or higher

 

This mod does support installations that include the F-4N DLC aircraft from ThirdWire, but it is not required.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Installation
~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

Before installing, please ensure that your target SF2 install meets the minimum requirements laid out above.

 

-----------------------------------
* STEP 1: PREPARE THE MOD FOLDER *
-----------------------------------

 

This mod requires a separate Mod Folder. Please do not attempt to install this mod over or combine it with any other mods package such as "NATO Fighters" or the SF2V Expansion Pack.

 

- Open your SF2 Installation directory and make a copy of StrikeFighters2 NorthAtlantic.exe. Rename the copied .EXE file to SF2_IndianOcean.exe (or whatever unique name you prefer).

 

- Run the newly copied and renamed .EXE file, then exit back out to the Windows desktop after navigating through a few menus. A custom Mod Folder for your "SF2 Indian Ocean" install will have been created in one of these locations:

 

Windows XP: \Documents and Settings\[username]\My Documents\ThirdWire\[YourModFolder]
Windows Vista: \Users\[username]\Saved Games\ThirdWire\[YourModFolder]
Windows 7: \Users\[username]\Saved Games\ThirdWire\[YourModFolder]

 

...where [YourModFolder] matches the name of the copied .EXE file that you created. You will install the "Expansion Pack" mod files to your Mod Folder.

 

- Open your Mod Folder and delete the \Objects sub-directory (including everything in it).

 

Now you're ready to install the "Expansion Pack" mod proper.

 

-------------------------------------------------
* STEP 2: INSTALL MAIN COMPONENTS TO MOD FOLDER *
-------------------------------------------------

 

This is the easiest step.

 

- Unpack the five "SF2 Indian Ocean" archive packages that you downloaded to a temporary location on your hard drive.

 

- Move the *contents* of the \To_Mod_Folder directory from each package to your Mod Folder (created in Step 1 above). (Note: do not simply drag and drop the folder named "To_Mod_Folder" or you will end up with a non-working install.)

 

If you've moved everything correctly, you should have a new \Objects sub-directory in your Mod Folder, along with a few new other sub-directories.

 

----------------------------
* STEP 3: EDIT OPTIONS.INI *
----------------------------

 

This last step involves a bit of text editing, so please pay attention.

 

Open the Options.INI file in your Mod Folder. Locate the "Single Mission" section. I recommend setting the StartYear= and EndYear= as follows:

 

StartYear=1948
EndYear=2020

 

Finally, a little further down you should find the "Campaign" section. Replace it with the following:

 

[Campaign]
CampaignName=1987-1021 Southern Calm
PlayerService=USN
PlayerUnit=VF-103 Sluggers
AircraftType=F-14A_82
Difficulty=HARD
Length=NORMAL
AircraftSupply=NORMAL
WeaponSupply=LIMITED
LoadCampaign=TRUE
CampaignSavename=DefaultCampaignSave

 

Save your changes and close the Options.INI file.

 

* * * * *

 

THAT'S IT. Your "SF2 Indian Ocean" mod should now be ready to use. You may consider installing some of the "optional" items as described in the next section.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Optional Installs
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

This mod includes a number of "optional" items that can be installed, provided you have the required files to suport them. These "optional" items can be broken down into three types:

 

- Optional Aircraft
- Optional Ships
- Alternate Campaigns

 

1. Optional Aircraft
--------------------

 

The \Option\Alt_Aircraft directory includes three optional aircraft that you can install. These alternate aircraft replace the substitutes that are installed by default.

 

Opt Aircraft Substitute
------------ ----------
F-4N (DLC) F-4N (based on F-4B_67)
Marut Su-7BMK
L-1049 C-47A (India)

 

How to Install:

 

F-4N:

 

If you have the F-4N DLC installed to your target SF2 installation and wish to use the DLC version instead of the default F-4N, simply remove the substitute F-4N from \Objects\Aircraft in your Mod Folder. Then move the DLC version from \Optional\Alt_Aircraft (part of the first package you downloaded) to \Objects\Aircraft. In other words, swap the DLC version for the default version.

 

Marut & L-1049:

 

The HF-24 Marut and L-1049 require LODs (model files) from the A-Team's download site:

 

http://cplengineeringllc.com/SFP1/Skunworks.html

 

1. Download the appropriate package containing the necessary LODs from the A-Team's site (link included above). For the Marut you will need to download the HF-24 Marut. For the L-1049 you will need the C-121 Super Constellation.

 

2. Unzip the package you downloaded to a temporary directory.

 

3. Copy the .LOD files from the package you downloaded to the appropriate aircraft folder in the \Alt_Aircraft directory.

 

4. Once you've added the LOD files to the aircraft's folder, you may install the aircraft and accompanying decals from the \Alt_Aircraft directory to your "SF2 India" Mod Folder.

 

Once installed the L-1049 and HF-24 Marut will be automatically used in campaigns. The F-4N is not used in any campaigns but can be used in Single Missions.

 

2. Optional Ships
-----------------

 

Also included are three ships that can also be installed, provided you obtain the correct LODs to support them.

 

Two ships are USN destroyers (the Charles F. Adams class and Farragut or Coontz class) based on the DLG-10 included in the "Yankee Air Pirate 2" and "Yankee Air Pirate 3" commercial mods. To use these optional destroyers you must have the necessary LOD files from "Yankee Air Pirate".

 

The third is the INS Viraat. To use it you must have the LOD files for the HMS Hermes from the SF2 Falklands mod:

 

http://combatace.com/files/file/13296-sf2-falklands-mod-redux/

 

How to Install:

 

a. For the destroyers, remove the substitutes (named Adams and Farragut) that are installed by default from \Objects\GroundObject in your Mod folder. (These substitute versions are based on the ThirdWire CGN-36.) The Viraat has no subsititute to remove.

 

b. Copy the Coontz2.LOD from "Yankee Air Pirate" to the Adams and Farragut folders in \Optional\Alt_Ships (part of the first package you downloaded). For the Viraat, copy the R12 .LOD files from the Hermes (R12) in the SF2 Falklands mod to the Viraat folder in \Optional\Alt_Ships.

 

c. Create collision LODs for both destroyers by making a copy of Coontz2.LOD and renaming it Coontz2_COL.LOD. For the Viraat the collision LOD is the R12-R2b_COL.LOD that's already included in the SF2 Falklands mod.

 

d. Move the ships from \Optional\Alt_Ships\GroundObject to \Objects\GroundObject in your MOD folder.

 

The campaigns will automatically use the new versions of the USN destroyers. The Viraat is not used in any campaigns but can be used in Single Missions.

 

3. Conventional Campaigns
-------------------------

 

The game engine for SF2NA brought many welcome new features to the world of Strike Fighters 2. As useful as those new features are, the SF2NA campaign engine (i.e., the engine that allows for "naval campaigns" with battle groups and cruise missile strikes) was clearly designed specifically for the SF2NA Iceland/North Atlantic campaign, as it attempts to turn every campaign into North Atlantic, Part II.

 

Once battle groups are "discovered" by the opposing side, the campaign engine will throw everything at that battle group, mission after mission, until all the ships are sunk or the attacking side runs out of aircraft capable of performing strike missions. This can become a bit wearisome, and it is extremely difficult to prevent those battle groups from being "discovered" and attacked. In the standard SF2NA-style campaigns listed above, this usually happens around the fifth mission of the campaign.

 

To give players an alternative to the standard "North Atlantic" duel-to-death naval campaign, I have included standard SF2-style versions of the two fictional campaigns (the 1974 and 1987 campaigns). The "conventional" versions put the campaigns' focus squarely on the battle between India and Pakistan. The Indian government -- based on a combination of military and political reasons -- elects not to directly attack American carrier groups while still engaging U.S. aircraft flying in support of Pakistan.) Note that the two historical campaigns (1965 and 1971) were built from the start as "conventional," non-navalized campaigns.

 

The upside to these "conventional" campaigns is that the campaign engine no longer gets stuck in the same cycle of hurling strike aircraft at the battle groups over and over. The downside is that carrier battle groups no longer move together. The carrier moves, but the escort ships are static terrain elements. Also, the big bombers on both sides tend to make less frequent appearances from their off-map air bases.

 

How to Use the Conventional Campaigns:

 

If you wish to try the conventional campaigns, you will have to install them from \Optional\Alt_Campaigns (found in the directory where you unpacked the "SF2 Indian Ocean" downloads).

 

a. Drag the \Campaigns folder to the Mods folder where you installed the
"SF2 Indian Ocean" mod, allowing Windows to overwrite files as prompted.

 

b. Drag the \Terrains folder to the "Black Sea Crisis" Mods folder as well,
again allowing Windows to overwrite files as prompted.

 

When you re-start the game, the listed campaigns will play as conventional, SF2-style campaigns.

 

Please note that in the above install process you are effectively converting the India-Pakistan terrain into a conventional SF2 terrain. While the terrain is coverted into a conventional, non-naval terrain, naval aircraft in Single Missions will fly from land bases, not carriers.

 

To convert the terrain back into an SF2NA-style "naval" terrain, copy these files from \Terrains\IndiaPak (in the directory where you unpacked the "SF2 Indian Ocean" download files) to the \Terrains\IndiaPak directory in your Mods folder:

 

IndiaPak.INI
IndiaPak_TARGETS.INI
IndiaPak_WATER.bmp

 

That's right -- those are the only files that need to be restored. I would recommend restoring the original SF2NA-style campaigns at the same time.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Summary of Campaigns
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

This mod includes four campaigns -- two historical campaigns plus two fictional campaigns. For each campaign a Red-side and Blue-side version is included, allowing you to fly aircraft from all three nations represented in the campaigns: India, Pakistan, and the USN.

 

Here's a quick summary of the campaigns:

 

1987-1021 Southern Calm
October 1987. A joint naval exercise, code-named "Southern Calm,"
conducted by the USS Saratoga carrier battle group with the Pakistani
Navy is interrupted when the Indian government denounces the joint
maneuvers as cover for a planned nuclear strike by Pakistan using
recently developed nuclear warheads designed to be delivered by
Pakistan's U.S. supplied F-16s.

 

1974-0421 Frowning Buddha
April 1974. After the Bhutto government of Pakistan publicly denounces
India's preparations to conduct a "peaceful nuclear explosion" at the
Pokhran Test Range and declares its intention to stop the test through
unilateral military action, the Nixon administration dispatches the Kitty
Hawk carrier battle group to the Arabian Sea in support of Pakistan.

 

1971-1203 India-Pakistan War '71
December 1971. After eight months of rising tensions over India's
support for the secessionist government of East Pakistan, the
Pakistani Air Force elects to strike the first blow in a seemingly
inevitable war by launching a pre-emptive attack against airfields
and other military targets in western India.

 

1965-0901 India-Pakistan War '65
September 1965. The Pakistani military launches Operation Grand Slam,
an effort to seize the town of Akhnoor in Jammu and cut off Indian
communications and supply lines in the disputed region of Kashmir.
Although it enjoys initial success, Grand Slam also manages to draw
the Indian Air Force into a conflict that threatens to grow into a
major conflagration.

 

~~~~~~~
Credits
~~~~~~~

 

This mod package draws on the work on dozens of modders who have uploaded the fruits of their labor to CombatAce.com and elsewhere over the years.

 

Aircraft
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
yakarov79 .......................... AH-1F
yakarov79 .......................... AH-1J_80
EricJ ............................... AH-1J camo skin
dtmdragon ........................... A-4M Skyhawk for SF2
Insky ............................... A-5C Fantan
Wrench & Lindr2 ..................... A-5C Fantan updates
Paulopanz ........................... A-5C Fantan skins
Boopidoo ............................ Su-15TM cockpit (used on Fantan)
HomeFries ........................... A-6 Superpack for SF2
Wrench .............................. A-7 low-viz skin
Marcfighters ........................ Ajeet & Gnat
Paulopanz ........................... An-12 skins
Wrench .............................. AV-8A for SF2
Crusader ............................ AV-8A Harrier Avionics Mod
gbreuder ............................ B-52 Vietnam Era Upgrade Package
Dels ................................ B-52G
Dave (USAFMTL) & team ............... B-52G upgrades
Dave (USAFMTL) ...................... B-52G 2nd BW skin
USAFMTL, JSF_Aggie, Dels & wpnssgt... B-52H
Kesselbrut .......................... B-52 cockpit
Veltro2K & Wrench ................... BR.1150
Veltro2K, Paulopanz, Eole, .......... BR.1050
& Nyghtfall
Baffmeister ......................... BR.1050 flight model
Paulopanz ........................... C-47A IAF skins
Lazarus ............................. C-47A PAF skins
MontyCZ ............................. C-119
Paulopanz ........................... C-119 skins
HrntFixr ............................ C-130A camo skin
Ahmed Junaid Raza ................... Canberras
Kessselbrut ......................... Canberra bombadier's cockpit
HomeFries ........................... EA-6 SuperPack for SF2
Beer, Sundowner, & Dave (USAFMTL).... New F-4B/N/S skins
Rippersix & dtmdragon ............... F-4E APQ-120 avionics update
daddyairplanes ...................... F-4J_74
mppd ................................ F-4J/N/S DECM antennas
Paulopanz & Spillone104 ............. F-6 Pack for SF2
ModMafia ............................ F-7PG & F-7MP
Murtaza Akbar ....................... F-7 alt skins
Swordsman422 ........................ F-14A Skin & Decal Pack for SF2NA
The Mirage Factory / Viper Crew ..... F-16A/B Blk15
Ace888 .............................. F-16 PAF skins
The Mirage Factory / ModMafia ....... F/A-18A
Wildcat, column5, & BPAo ............ F/A-18A skins
Zur ................................. F-86F & CL-13B
Wrench, Fubar512, & Ravenclaw ....... F-86F/CL-13B updated skins & flight model
Zurawski ............................ F-86F cockpit (used on several aircraft)
ndicki & Wrench ..................... F-104A PAF
bunyap .............................. Harvards
Wrench & Soulfreak .................. Harvard skins & updates
Paulopanz & ghostrider883 ........... HF-24 Marut skins & updates
Baffmeister ......................... HF-24 new flight model
ghostrider883 & Paulopanz ........... Hunter F.56 skins & updates
Veltro2K, Torno, & Paulopanz ........ IL-38 & IL-38N
Oli & Sundowner ..................... Jaguar GR1
Bpao, Jeanba, Tom Venom, Cangas, .... Jaguar A/M
& Sony Tuckson
Bunyap & pappychksix ................ KA-3B Skywarrior
WhiteboySamurai ..................... Ka-27
Marcfighters & Kreelin. ............. Mi-8 Hip
ghostrider883 ....................... Mi-8 IAF skins
Lazarus ............................. Mi-8 PAF skins
YEYEYE .............................. Mi-24P
emresukhoi .......................... Mi-24P skins
Paladrian ........................... MiG-21 cockpits
AtariBaby ........................... MiG-21 Complete Pack for SF2
Paulopanz ........................... MiG-21F, MiG-21FL, MiG-21PF skins
Paulopanz ........................... MiG-21bis skins
ghostrider883 & Lazarus ............. MiG-21bis skins
Paulopanz ........................... MiG-21M/MF camo skin
Paulopanz & ghostrider883 ........... MiG-23 camo & grey skins
CA_Stary ............................ MiG-23/27 cockpits
USAFTML & MiG-25 Team ............... MiG-25RB
Paulopanz ........................... MiG-25RB IAF skin
Baffmeister & Spillone104 ........... MiG-25RB updates & new flight model
The Mirage Factory .................. MiG-29A Fulcrum
Russouk2004 ......................... MiG-29A updated model
ghostrider883 ....................... MiG-29A IAF skins
Denis Oliveira & Coupi .............. Mirage IIIEP & Mirage IIIRP
Paulopanz ........................... Mirage 5PA skins & updates
Denis Oliveira, Coupi, & Paulopanz .. Mirage IIIDP & Mirage 5DD
Denis Oliveira, Coupi, & Paulopanz .. Mirage IIIO Rose
The Mirage Factory .................. Mirage 2000H
Wrench, ghostrider883, & Ace888 ..... Mirage 2000H skins & updates
ghostrider883 ....................... Mystere IVA IAF skins
Pasko ............................... Ouragan
Paulopanz ........................... Ouragan skins
Ordway .............................. Ouragan/MD-450 cockpit
Baffmeister ......................... new Ouragan flight model
Florian ............................. P-3C beta
Julhelm ............................. RA-5C Vigilante
The Mirage Factory .................. RF-8G Crusader
Gocad ............................... RF-8G VFP-63 skin
Erikgen ............................. T-33A & RT-33A
Paulopanz ........................... T-33A & RT-33A skins
FoxMonter ........................... S-3A/B
Wrench .............................. S-3A/B updates
slick cowboy ........................ S-3A/B skins
The Mirage Factory .................. Sea Harrier
Paulopanz & Sundowner ............... Sea Harrier skins & updates
Bunyap .............................. Sea Hawks
Tomb ................................ Sea Hawk fixes/upgrades
Paulopanz ........................... INS Sea Hawk skins & updates
Florian ............................. SH-3D Sea King
Paulopanz ........................... Su-7BMK IAF skins
CA_Stary ............................ Su-7BMK cockpit
Wrench & ghostrider883 .............. Tu-142 mod
Gramps .............................. UH-1D Huey
ghostrider883 ....................... Vampire FB.52 skins

 

Ground Objects
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Pasko ............................... "SAMs and Vehicles Pack: Euro & Desert"
Nicholas Bell ....................... "WOE 1950's AAA Mod"
Gerald14 ............................ "Russian Defence/ZSU-23-4 Pack"
Monty CZ ............................ "SF2 WWII Flak Pack"
Geo.................................. "WWII Ground Object Pack"
Kesselbrut .......................... "US Armor Pack"
SFP1Ace ............................. "Alternative ArmorPack"
Wrench .............................. "India-Pakistan Ground Objects, Weapons, Other Bits"
Wrench .............................. "India-Pakistan Naval Units"
Gabilon ............................. 2S6 & SA-13
Kesselbrut .......................... SA-9
Monty CZ............................. Stinger site
EricJ ............................... SA-11
YEYEYE .............................. TubeArm
Pasko ............................... SA-3, Flatface, Sidenet, Spoonrest, EW_Radar
FastCargo ........................... SA-5 & SquarePair
Julhelm & Wrench .................... SON-9A Firecan
Crusader ............................ Soviet MANPADs for SF2
Stary ............................... Soviet MANPADS (new models)
Pasko & Nicholas Bell ............... S-60, ZPU-4, M-42, D-20
Pasko & Nicholas Bell ............... M-59 155mm (based on KS-19P)
Nicholas Bell ....................... Bofors L60/L70
rebel ryder ......................... M1939 flak guns
Kesselbrut .......................... OerlikonAAA, ZPU-1, RH202, US_Cal50
Fubar512 ............................ ZSU-23 AAA tweaks
Pasko ............................... BTR-60, Type-59, Type-63, Type-69, AMX-13
rebel ryder ......................... Sherman-M4A2, Sherman-M4A2_76mm
Stefano ............................. M-47 Patton tank
Geo ................................. M24, M36
rebel ryder ......................... BRDM-2, BMP-1, BMP-1_AT-3, BMP-2, BMP-2_AT-5
SUICIDAL ............................ New Destroyed Tank LODs
Kesselbrut .......................... CommTrailer, HQTrailer
Pasko ............................... Frog3
Moonjumper, Crusader, & Otto ........ BM-14-16 Katyusha mod
Fubar512 & MiGBuster ................ Carrier Deck Illumination package
WhiteBoySamurai ..................... Kidd, Leahy, Burke, Ticonderoga, & Bainbridge class ships
WhiteBoySamurai ..................... Arnala class (Type053K)
WhiteBoySamurai ..................... Tariq class (Zulfiqar)
WhiteBoySamurai ..................... Nanuchka II missile boat
Adrian Benetti ...................... Shanghai II (ARA Indomita)
Pasko ............................... Huangfeng class (Komar)
ID(io)T Team, Torno, YeYeYe, ........ Iowa '80s battleship
& Spitwulf
Fubar512 ............................ Iowa '80s configuration
JSF_Aggie ........................... ThirdWire LHA upgrade
Florian ............................. USN AOE Transport (Bremen class)
Julhelm ............................. USN Tanker
Hinchinbrooke ....................... Trishul/Talwar, County Class, Type 12M, Foch,
Type 42, Cavalier, Daring, & Vikrant
MiGbuster ........................... INS Vikrant hi-res skin
Gramps .............................. Daring (old model)
BANIDOS TEAM ........................ Type 12I & Type12L
Unknown author ...................... MTB
Kesselbrut .......................... MVNordic_Ferry, MVTor_Caledonia, MVBaltic_Ferry, & SSCanberra
Polak ............................... MVAtlantic_Causeway & MVAtlantic_Conveyor
Kesselbrut .......................... Trawler 1 & 2, Small Cargo Ship, Navy Tug
Cocas ............................... Trawler
BANIDOS Team ........................ ContainerShip
Julhelm ............................. Container_Ship & Tanker2
loborojo & SUICIDAL ................. Petrolero
Fubar512 ............................ Fleet Oiler & LNGTanker
Cocas ............................... SovietTrawler
SUICIDAL-ART ........................ M113A1
Kesselbrut .......................... ZiL-157 trucks
Richard & Kesselbrut ................ Land Rover trucks
Badfrank ............................ Red & Yellow Jeeps

 

Other
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
cellinsky, Insky/Orsin, & PanamaRed Environment mods
OldDiego, Pappy, Wrench, Pasko, ..... Pilots
Florian/AmokFloo, & PureBlue
Spillone104 ......................... custom engine sounds
CA_Stary ............................ custom effects
Stary ............................... new gun tracers
CA_Stary ............................ Ejection mod
Spectre8750 ......................... Fake Afterburner Node
Arthur66 ............................ India-Pakistan '65 campaign
Deuces & Wrench ..................... India-Pakistan terrain
Stary ............................... India-Pakistan hi-res tiles

 

If I have neglected to credit anyone here, please let me know. I will get it fixed ASAP.

 

--------------------------
Eric Howes
eburger68
20 July 2015
23 July 2015